The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
William A. Beach, Theodore Mlton's Chief
Lawyer, Believed Mr. Beecher Innocent
of the Charges Brought Against Him.
New York Politics Disturbed by Intro
duction of the High-License Issue.
Members of the Terrorist Section of the Rus
sian Nihilists Who Seek Refuge in Amer
lea, and What Becomes of Them.
POsT-MORTEM EVIDENCE.

Theodore Tilton's Chief Lawyer Believed in
Mr.. Beecher's Innocence.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
New YORK, March 26-Here is some curious
post-mortem evidence for Beecher, though it is
not Of nature to receive judicial consideration,
since it consists simply of the opinion of Tlton's
chief lawyer in the great scandal trial, that the
defendant was innocent That counsel was
William A. Beach, now dead. AT the time of
the Tilton suit he had lately removed to New
York from Troy, where he had been for years
leader at the bar; but in the metropolis he was
unknown to the general public, and was DESTROYS
of greater fame than his quiet but lucrative
business as an attorney for several railroads gave
him. He was gifted with singular eloquence, and
he thought he saw in this Beecher matter the
opportunity of his life. He knew Tilton per-
sonally, and believed in the truth of his griev
ance. So he took the case with very small pros
pect Of pecuniary recompense. but willing to ex
ert himself for glory. Your correspondent is
now able to tell that, before the six months of
the trial were over, Beach was convinced that
Beecher was guiltless of adultery with Mrs Til
ton. The authorities for this statement
Congressman Martin /. Townsend and Irving
Browne. They say that Beach declared to them
his firm belief in Beecher's goodness. Townsend
is Troy lawyer of eminence and the utmost
probity. 'Beach started in with full faith that
Tilton had sound case. he says, "but the trial
was not half over before he changed his mind
relate this without assuming what the truth
was but simply tell how Beach regarded it"
Irving Browne formerly of Troy, but now
lives at Albany. He is a lawyer, a literary
- ~.
He quotes Tilton's counsel as saying to him
I'VE were pack of hounds trying to run lion
down. Beecher's own testimony convinced me
that he was innocent of the charge which Tilton
had made. That is not saying that Titon did
not believe his own accusation On the contrary,
he did; but we were all mistaken" Inquiry
among the intimate friends Of Beecher reveals
the fact that Beach's conversion to this view was
| known to several and surmised by others The
| two men conceived strong liking for each other
! 10 court. Beecher liked Beachs personality, and
| especially his oratory One of the earlier cpl
sodes of the trial bitter excoriation of the
| preacher by the lawyer, in which he was likened
to the guilty pastor in Hawthornes "Scarlei
Letter" 1t was fervid piece of impassioned
speaking. and nobody listened to it with intense1
| attention than Beecher. Turning to Col. Hora
ito c. King, he said, to that partisan's astonish
men.: Isn't he splendid orator?" Beach and
| Beecher introduced to each other few
days later by VIM. NJ. Evarts, in the court
room, but not in the presence of the jury. Il
| was on day when ice blockade in the rive,
prevented the arrival of witnesses, and an inter
mission was taken. They chatted awhile pleas
antly. and each told anecdotes of experience a.
| public speakers. But Beach's final address tt
the jury, though a conscientious plea for his eli
ent's cause, lacked the fire of the mentioned
speech The two men met many times after
| ward, and exchanged visits